COC confused about its role: Karavaki
Thursday August 23, 2007

Former Supervisor of Elections, Semesa Karavaki

Terminated Supervisor of Elections Semesa Karavaki has criticised the Constitutional Offices Commission (COC) inability to secure his replacement.

He said this proved that the Commission is confused about its role.

And Karavaki states that the interim administration has over-qualified the position by seeking applicants with experience in elections, which is contrary to the requirements of Fiji's Constitution.

This, he says, could be a delaying tactic by the authorities in light of their commitments made to the European Union for general elections by 2009.

Karavaki's statement follows reports that the COC has once again been unsuccessful in securing an appointment for the post stating that the applicants were not "qualified enough" or did not have the "necessary experience".

The COC is seeking a new Supervisor of Elections who has experience as a barrister as well as experience in elections and is particularly looking for a person who can bring about reform in the electoral system.

Karavaki said the position can be easily filled as Fiji has a lot of qualified lawyers and there in no need to put more requirements in particular for experience for the post.

He said the COC efforts to seek an "experienced" person of that calibre is, "a misguided consideration, because the constitution is very clear about the requirements of who would be appointed".

"The Constitution only requires a person who is qualified to practice law. It does not say anything in addition to that."

"We just need a lawyer just to read those requirements and apply according to what the law says," Karavaki added.

"You don't need a person who comes there with the experience elections experience. You just need a person who knows how to read the law and apply it accordingly."

Former Supervisor of Elections Walter Rigamoto also confirmed that the requirement under the constitution is for the applicant to be a lawyer.

Applications for the position were announced in May with applications closing in early June. It was re-advertised a month later following a lack of interest in the position as put by COC chairman Rishi Ram.

Karavaki said there has been a lot of interference by the Attorney General and the interim administration into the duties of the COC that has prevented the position from being filled.

"And the COC itself is confused because it does not know its independence status and its role," he said.

"It's all confusion around there.

"They (COC) don't really know their role. If they knew their role they would have gone and appointed somebody."

Karavaki said he does not think the regime will be able to secure his replacement.